Mn2+ and Mg2+ improved sphingomyelinase production by Lactobacillus rhamnosus FTDC 8313 and binding affinity to sphingomyelin for generation of ceramides

The present research aims to optimize the sphingomyelinase (SMase) activity produced by Lactobacillus rhamnosus FTDC 8313 using divalent metal ions via response surface methodology and to further study the effects of the divalent metal ions on SMase activity using molecular modeling approach. This study also aimed to assess the possibility of increasing ceramide levels in vitro on cultured keratinocytes upon treatment with the extracellular extract of the optimized L. rhamnosus FTDC 8313. Using a central composite design, an optimum point of SMase activity (6.54 mU ml −1 ) was produced from a combination of 0.65% (w/v) MnSO 4 and 0.82% (w/v) MgSO 4 . 3D response surface indicated that the altered availability of the two ions (Mn 2+ and Mg 2+ ) reduced their effects on SMase activity. In addition, the treatment of the HaCaT cells with optimized extracellular extract of L. rhamnosus FTDC8313 significantly increased ( P 2+ and Mg 2+ into the active site of SMase improved the binding affinity between the SMase and sphingomyelin based on its free energy of binding as well as the interaction distances between the important catalytic residues Glu53 and His296.